Friction clutch



C. F. PEARSUN.

FRICTION CLUTCH.

IJDJ?, 20, 1923.

HLED JULY25. 1921.

Patented Mar. 20, 1923.

UNITED ASTATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARL `IPEARSO, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO CHICAGO MACHINE MOTORC0., A CJORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

FRICTION cLUTcH.

Application filed July 25, 1921.

To all whom 1'! may concern.'

Be it known that I. CARI. F. lnansox, a citizen of the [nited States.residing at Chicago. in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and uset'nl improvements in Friction Clutches. ofwhich the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in friction clutches. and moreespecially to clutches of this character which are well adapted for usein self-propelled vehicles.

The clutch is of the type in which the separable driving and drivenmembers are normally and yieldingly held in driving con tact by acompressed spring.

Some of the objects of the invention are to simplify the clutchstructure; to reduce the cost of manufacture; to provide a convenientmeans for opening the clutch, and an accurate and reliable means toadjust the relative position of the parts, and the provision of suitablelevers thru which the springs act to maintain the clutch members indriving relation.

Other, further and more specific objects ot the invention will becomereadily apparent, to persons skilled in the art, from a consideration ofthe following description when taken in conjunction with the drawings,wherein Fig. 1 is a transverse section taken on line 1 1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section of the structure.

ln both views the same reference characters are employed to indicatesimilar parts.

In the embodiment 5 may be an engine shaft expanded into a flange 6 andconnected b v bolts T to a H v-wheel S. The driven shaft 9 has a reducedend 10 which is supported by a ball bearing structure 11 located at theaxis ofthe fly-wheel. j

Secured to the fly-wheel. near the outer circumferential limits` is aring 1Q. arranged to space awalv from the surface of the fiv wheel afiat ring 13 which latter ring serves as one ot` the clutch members. Thebolts 14 hold both ot' the rings in their positions with respect to theHvwheel.

One ot' the driven clutch operating members consists of the sliding hub15. having a disk portion 17 terminating in a flat ring 19. The Hat ringi9 is contained between the clutch member 13 and the fly-wheel. and

Serial No. 487,251.

the hub 15,' with the flat ring 18, is slidable on the shaft 9. The disk1T terminates in another concentric hub 19 from which thc fiat ring 1Hdirectl)y extends.

Slidable on the hub 19 is another clutch member consisting oi" a Hatring 20. Pivoted to the ring Ltl. as at 21. are a plurality ofradiallvextending clutch-closing levers 22. each having an end 23 beyondits fulcrum which is outturned to make Contact with an axiallyvadjustable fiat ring 24, threaded on' the hub 19 and axially adjustablethereon. serving as an abutment to regulate the operation ot' closinerthe clutch.

A hollow hub Q5 is slid-able on the shaft 9 and there is provided alarger, integral portion 26 that overlies the hub l5. The part 26 isprovided with sockets 27, within which the inner ends ot' the levers 22normallv rest. lVhen the hub 25 and the integral portion 26, are movedto the lett the inner ends of the levers 22 are idly moved. while theeffect ot the springs on the clutch members to hold them closed isremoved and the clutch is opened. When the hubs Q5 and QG are re.-leased the outer ends 23 of the levers :'22 bear against the abutmentring 24 ,and the springs 28 cause the ring 20 and the ring 18 to rmly.but vieldinghn engage the driving clutch member li. and in this closedposition the clutch members normally remain and are onllv separated whentension ot the springs is removed therefrom as when the members 25 and2G are moved tothe lett. as heretofore described.

A ball bearing thrust receiving structure 29 ma)Y be located between asuitable lever for separating the clutch members and the rim 30 of the,sleeve 11.

Rings 39. and .'33 of yielding material um;v be introduced. as shown.between the respective clutch members to prevent actual metallic.contact of said iin-nibers and to of fer additional trictionalresistance. therebetween.

Having described mv invention what 1 claim as new and desire to secure bv Letters Patent. is:-

clutch comprising a driving wheel: a ring latcrall \v spaced therefromforming a driving member of the clutch; a driven shaft: a hub slidablethereon radially terminating in a flat ring. located between the drivingmember and said wheel: a slidable ring on the other side ot said drivingclutch liti member; a pluralit of radially disposed levers pivoted to te latter sldfiblel ring, each lever havi fr an outer end extendingbeyond its pivote point; an axially adjustable abutmentfor the extendedends of said levers; a sliding hub, overlying the first mentioned hub,having sockets containing the inner ends of said levers; a spring acting0n the inner ends of said levers 'to normally hold the clutch membersinf driving engagement and means to discontinue driving engagement ofsaid clutch members by compressing the springs.

In testimony whereof I hereunto subscribe my name.

CARL F. PEARSON.

